The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-17
The Late Bishop Elliott.

The following letter, evidently by the
Bishop of New York, appeared in The EUen-
ing Post:
SIR.-The Erening Post of Aug. 81, in its
letter from your correspondent at Sewanee,
contained an announcement which came,
venture to think, to large number of your
readers with the shock of a very painful
surprise. The death of Bishop Elliott, of
Western Texas, was certainly not antici-
pated by his friends, and their sense of loss
in view.of tits at once profound and poign-
ant. <
So rare and noble personality ought not
to be allowed to pass from among us with
out some expression of the grateful admira
ton and affection which it everywhere in
spired. Bishop Elliott was Southerner of
the Southerners, fit inheritor of that kingly
dignity and sunny temper which were the
charm of his distinguished father, the late
Bishop of Georgia. His attachment to his
section" and to all its best traditions, was
as strong in his maturer years as In the first
fire of his youth But Northern people
everywhere, and of every fellowship, were
irresistibly attracted to him. l have before
me as | write copy of a letter written to
him by Presbyterian divine in New Eng
land, who had only slightly known him in
San Antonio, which reads:
My DEAR BROTHER: | read to-day in the San
Antonio Express of your lying very sick, with
little hope of recovery.
The announcement went to my heart, and
cannot refrain from writing you and rendering
you my cordial sympathy and my pledge that 1
will daily make you subject of daily prayer
until hear of change in your case. You may
think it strange that should thus express my
self. In explanation allow me to say that,
though our acquaintance at San Antonio and
since was brief, yet there is golden cord of
affinity that involuntarily binds some hearts to-
gether, or to other hearts, | mad learned to
love you, strange us it may seem, and the note
of your sickness gave me pain.
It was SO wherever he went. His knightly
courtesy, his invariable courage, his wis
dom, gentleness and contagious enthusiasm
conquered all hearts and made his presence
power for good ia every company. Ranch
men and teamsters, cowboys and soldiers
he had been a soldier himself and had, like
Frederick Robertson, a strong sympathy
with the calling) were among his warmest
friends and most eager listeners. His infiu-
ence among all classes was potent and last
ing, and the impress which he has left upon
the vast missionary field committed to his
charge.will not soon be effaced
Perhaps the chief value of his character
and ministry, however, is to be found in
their pre-emnent Illustration of those he
roic qualities of which, by many, our age is
supposed to be conspicuously destitute
Bishop Elliott was called by the church to
field of singular hardship and discouraging
ISOLATION. lie occupied IL under conditions
which made it frequently necessary for him
TO be the servant III his own household, to
cook the food for his family, and to per-
form, sometimes, the most mental
offices. But he never referred to
this otherwise than playfuily, and
what was more to the point he
never could be induced to surrender his
charge by any solicitations, however tempt
ing. Again and again overtureS were made
to him from conspicuous dioceSeS in the
East, but neither to such propositions nor
to those of his brethren of the House of
Bishops, that he should consent to transla-
ton to "a less laborious jurisdiction, would
he listen. dead on the field of BATTLE
Ike that knightly soldier of Auvergne,
might, almost with literal tiuthfulness, be
answered at roli-call on his behalf He
went away, indeel, once and again in search
of health. but his heart was with his flock,
and thoughts engrossed In his work.
And to-day, though he rests from his
labOis his works follow him. Cut off while
still comparatively a young man, with the
large and lar-seeing plans which he had
sketched out but little more than begun, his
memory will be an enduring power WHEREBY
er he was known. His singular grace and
charm of person and bearing, his ringing
voice and kinding eloquence, his scorn OF
all things base and ignoble. his lofty conse
Grafton to the Master whose call he owned
and obeyed, all these will live as an image
of beauty and nobleness, to adorn the pages
of Christian history, and to provoke In
kindred souls noble emulation.
II. G. =.
Lake Placid, ~ u, Sept. 4.